Therapeutic school aids autistic children

Monday

While research into the causes of autism continues, the rate of diagnosis continues to skyrocket. One in 150 babies develops autism. For boys, the number is one in 94.

While research into the causes of autism continues, the rate of diagnosis continues to skyrocket.

One in 150 babies develops autism. For boys, the number is one in 94.

There is no cure but medicine has learned that with early diagnosis and treatment, autistic individuals can make dramatic improvements in their social and communication processes. For some, the help doesn’t come as early as it should.

That was the case in the Rock River Valley, but last fall’s opening of the Easter Seals Autism Therapeutic School is making a difference for 13 children and their families.

Eleven-year-old Benjamin Abramat has been going to school for eight years. Since fall, when he started at Easter Seals, he enjoys school for the first time, said his mother, Sally.

“Every day I had a child who didn’t want to go to school,” Sally said. “He’d be kicking and screaming down the hallway, and I would have to go along to help get him in the classroom.”

Since he transferred?

“He’s running out the door in the morning to get on the bus. And he comes off the bus in wonderful moods,” said Sally.

That alone means a huge improvement in their family life. Fewer outbursts from Benjamin mean less stress for everyone. But even more important changes are taking place.

“He has met most of the annual goals they write” in the state-mandated Individual Education Program, Sally said. “He’s learning to use a calculator, to count money, simple addition and subtraction, and we’re working toward multiplying and dividing.”

Writing is difficult for Benjamin. His parents hope to work with the school on getting him computer software and instructions in typing. Reading is hard to judge. His parents and teachers believe he can read, but because he doesn’t speak plainly, it’s difficult to tell.

The Abramats, said Sally, are “ecstatic and grateful” that Benjamin is in the Easter Seals school.

“He is just a different person,” Sally said. “Social things are still hard for him, but his temperament is more calm because of the school environment.”

Like other parents of children with disorders, the Abramats learned early to do research themselves and trust their own judgment. When Benjamin was 2 and started regressing, their pediatrician said not to worry. But they knew something was wrong.

“He wasn’t interacting. The other kids would chase a ball and he would just stand and observe, he would wander away from groups of kids,” said Sally.

Benjamin had been normal, Sally said, but after a series of immunizations, he regressed.

Many parents believe certain immunizations cause autism. The Centers of Disease Control, which has done several studies, disputes that. But research continues.

The Abramats took Benjamin to a pediatric neurologist who steered them toward services. The Boone County Special Education Co-op was the main provider after he reached age 3, but the Abramats felt school services weren’t succeeding.

“We had not seen a lot of goals being met, and we felt he needed people who understood him better,” said Sally, “people who could see his strengths and weaknesses and know how to use the strengths to build up the weaknesses.”

The Easter Seals school, said Benjamin’s dad, Roy, is a “can-do” environment.

“We don’t hear anyone say what he can’t do, like we used to,” Roy said.

That has heightened the family’s hopes for Benjamin.

“When you can motivate a child to learn, there is no limit,” Roy said.

The Easter Seals school has a staff of 15 which includes speech, art, music and occupational therapists, behavior specialists, certified special education teachers who have specialized in autism, a pediatric nurse, clinical social worker, and child psychiatrist/medical director. The student-staff ratio is about 2 to 1.

Thirteen children, ages 6 through 14, are enrolled. They come from the Rockford area, Dixon, Huntley, Belvidere and the Hiawatha School District. The autism school accepts students ages 3 to 21 and can expand to enroll up to 50.

Parents have shown interest and Jennifer Sims, school director, believes enrollment will grow. Individual school districts must agree the autism school is the best place for a child, and provide transportation and pay the $187-a-day fee.

Sims said students find success because all the specialists and therapies are on site. Families and students receive help daily or whenever they need it in behavior issues as well as academics, life skills, medical needs and other areas.

“We work side by side with parents and our services are highly individualized, based on the students,” said Sims.

Teachers who work with children who have autism don’t expect quick results. But their expertise leads to successes, said Lee Ann Sluiter, art therapist at the school.

She described a student who came in last September wearing gloves because he had a habit of scratching himself. “We couldn’t get him to sit down, let alone consider taking his gloves off,” she said.

Six months later, the boy no longer needs to wear the gloves while he’s engrossed in art.

“He’s able to stay here 20 to 30 minutes and he usually completes his project,” said Sluiter. “He’s made a significant change.”

Autism facts
What: Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.

Prevalence: 1 in 150 children in the United States has autism; for boys, the prevalence is 1 in 94; up to 1.5 million Americans are believed to have some form of autism; autism is growing at a rate of 10 percent to 17 percent per year.

Symptoms: Lack of or delay in spoken language; repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms such as twirling objects; little or no eye contact; lack of interest in peer relationships; lack of spontaneous or make-believe play; persistent fixation on parts of objects.

Outcomes: Children do not outgrow autism but it is treatable; early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes.

On the Web: eastersealschicago.com, autism-society.org, ninds.nih.gov (click on disorders), autism.org, autism.com or talkaboutcuringautism.org.

Debate over vaccines continues
Some people believe that childhood vaccines with thimerosal — a preservative containing a form of mercury — may trigger autism in some children who are genetically predisposed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and some other medical groups say there are no valid studies showing a definite link. The debate continues.

Dr. William Renk, a pediatrician at the SwedishAmerican Medical Group Woodside Clinic, said concerned parents should know that thimerosal has not been used in pediatric vaccines in many years.

Thimerosal is contained in some multiple dose influenza vaccines not always specifically used in pediatrics, he said.

Renk said parents who have questions about whether a flu vaccine or any other vaccine might contain thimerosal should ask their doctor before it is given.

Parents concerned that a previous vaccine may have contained thimerosal should have their doctor check the child’s medical records. They should indicate whether the substance was involved, Renk said.

- Deborah Austin

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